Setting Standards for Behavioral Health

Here we will be reporting about the organizations that set standards for various types of physical and mental health, as well as rehabilitation.  These organizations include CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations), and COA (Council on Accreditation).  This report will focus on CARF.

What is CARF?
CARF standards are self-described as “rigorous.”  Services that meet such standards are among the best nationally and internationally.  CARF strongly supports a policy of diversity for its accredited services.  The commission defines diversity as “differences due to cognitive or physical ability, cultures, ethnicity, religion, economic status, gender, age or sexual orientation.  The CARF trustees firmly hold that “diverse environment and nondiscrimination practices are essential to quality programs, says Donald Galvin, Ph.D. President and CEO of CARF.  “Prejudice has no place in employment or service delivery.”  Quality improvement, or QI, is the tangible outcome for today’s’ services.  CARF has categories of standards that are used for assessment.  Some of these are:

• Organizational Quality
• Quality Improvement (QI) Systems
• Accessibility Health, Safety, and Transportation
• Rights of the Person Served
• Screening and Assessment Continuity of Care
• Medication Management
• Seclusion and Restraint
• Case Management

CARF has standards in three areas:

• Medical Rehabilitation
• Behavioral Health
• Employment and Community Services

CARF surveys report on three areas:  exemplary conformance to standards, program strength, and areas needing improvement.  The organization for these areas must submit a Quality Improvement Plan within ninety days of the survey that outlines corrective actions taken.

There are three accreditation categories:

• Three Year Accreditation
• One year Accreditation
• Non-accreditation

Sample of a Standard
Criterion A.  Input from Stakeholders
The organization demonstrates that it obtains input:

• On an ongoing basis
• From:
• Persons served
• Personnel
• Other stakeholders

www.1.va.gov/visns/visn02/pm/carf.htm  

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